Red light Cameras

[OBLAMA2009]

Another thing too....I wouldn't be such against RLCs if the lights themselves were efficient. I used to leave for work at 430am and there would be nobody on the road. However, for whatever reason - someone triggering the system to make a right on red, timing, etc I had to stop at an intersection with zero cars around.

Theres an intersection I know of where people block the intersection to make a left because they are waiting for the opposite direction traffic to clear. By waiting for that traffic to clear they block the cars that are stopped at the light to make a left. The result is only 2-3 cars can make that left. During rush hour that turning lane is 20-30 cars deep and I avoid it at all costs.

My dad was nailed with a red light ticket last winter. He stopped way prior to the intersection but there was ice and snow on the road that made him slide past the line. It was really early in the morning (4am) and not a car was on the road. You clearly saw this in the video they give you so he contested it - went to court and the judge denied it telling him to "be more careful next time".

traffic court is a total scam. what kind of legitimate proceeding finds in favor of the cops 100% of the time

 

[Juddog]

Going too fast for the conditions. He should get better snow tires before winter.

^^ Exactly - if you are sliding so far that you slide right into an intersection, then it's time to get some snow tires and quit being a cheapass driving around on bald tires! He's lucky nobody else was in the intersection because based on those conditions he could have easily hit someone.

 

[shortylickens]

Fine, but the obviously wasnt TRYING to go through a red. So that charge would be dropped.
Am surprised the judge didnt nail him for the other stuff, since they had clear evidence.

 

[Eos]

1) Slow the fuck down.
2) Increase your following distance.
2b) Get out of the way of other drivers who do not follow rule 2. Just do it, I don't care how. There's always a way to swap positions with the vehicle behind you. Do you want a crash or a delay of 45 seconds? You decide.
3) Learn about "stale lights".

 

[JulesMaximus]

I got a ticket in the mail two years ago for turning right on red. I threw it in the trash, have yet to hear anything about it.

If they ever come to my door, I will say I never received it.

Wouldn't be surprised if you have a warrant out for your arrest and double the fine now.

 

[shortylickens]

Wouldn't be surprised if you have a warrant out for your arrest and double the fine now.

A lot of states wont do that for simple traffic violations. It costs more to track him down than the ticket is worth. And as we've already discussed, its about profits, not public safety. They will probably just add it to his next ticket, if he gets one. The states are getting better about keeping track of such things. Also he wont be able to renew any of his vehicle tags or drivers license until he deals with that.

 

[TangoJuliet]

^^ Exactly - if you are sliding so far that you slide right into an intersection, then it's time to get some snow tires and quit being a cheapass driving around on bald tires! He's lucky nobody else was in the intersection because based on those conditions he could have easily hit someone.

I didn't say he went into the intersection. I said he went past the line...big difference there. Cheap ass? He was driving a brand new Civic.

 

[Eos]

^^ Exactly - if you are sliding so far that you slide right into an intersection, then it's time to get some snow tires and quit being a cheapass driving around on bald tires! He's lucky nobody else was in the intersection because based on those conditions he could have easily hit someone.

I didn't say he went into the intersection. I said he went past the line...big difference there. Cheap ass? He was driving a brand new Civic.

New car doesn't automatically imply it has proper snow tires.

 

[OverVolt]

traffic court is a total scam. what kind of legitimate proceeding finds in favor of the cops 100% of the time

One where the cops have evidence and you don't. If you try to plead not guilty they go on their "radar gun last maintenance 1 week ago 10/4 oct found to be working properly driver to my left going 63 in a 45mph zone at intersection of ______ and ________"

All you can really plead is mitigating circumstances. Like I got pulled over doing 85 in a 55mph. Only reason I was doing that is I was in the center lane and someone came directly into my lane and I changed lanes to the left to avoid hitting him and my exit was in 1/4mile for work and now I had to get across the traffic in the middle lane that was all clumped together from the retardhole. So I got PBJ. I just said I would drive in the right lane closer to my exit. Your solution can't discredit the mitigating reason like "I will try super hard not to speed in that same situation" since if you are in the same situation you'd probably do it again if the judge accepts it as a mitigating factor.

 

[TangoJuliet]

New car doesn't automatically imply it has proper snow tires.

No it doesn't but it also doesn't mean that they're "bald ass tires" either.

 

[lothar]

Snow tires are overrated.
All-seasons are good enough.

 

[Jayboe]

I was speeding through ATL as I usually do, then out of the blue a couple weeks later, i get a picture of my license plate in the mail, attached to it was a ticket telling me that I owe a fine of $88... I took a picture of $88 and mailed it back to them. i do not recommend doing this as the judge trippled my fine, but it was funny as hell and I know that even he wanted to laugh!!!!

 

[rh71]

I was speeding through ATL as I usually do, then out of the blue a couple weeks later, i get a picture of my license plate in the mail, attached to it was a ticket telling me that I owe a fine of $88... I took a picture of $88 and mailed it back to them. i do not recommend doing this as the judge trippled my fine, but it was funny as hell and I know that even he wanted to laugh!!!!

can you let us know what happens when you mail a picture of $264 back?

As for traffic court, I went to argue a parking ticket and they were calling person after person and letting them plea down as if it was some game. It was ridiculous. Basically if you felt you had a case and actually wanted to go back on a different date a month later (and wait in a room all over again), then you didn't take the plea. Everyone basically took a guilty plea and just paid a lesser fine (like half).

 

[kranky]

I was speeding through ATL as I usually do, then out of the blue a couple weeks later, i get a picture of my license plate in the mail, attached to it was a ticket telling me that I owe a fine of $88... I took a picture of $88 and mailed it back to them. i do not recommend doing this as the judge trippled my fine, but it was funny as hell and I know that even he wanted to laugh!!!!

Well, I know we just met and all, but I am comfortable saying you completely made up that "story".

 

[Fenixgoon]

i would say there are some intersections that do warrant redlight cameras, though i suspect that are NOT the majority.

 

[amdhunter]

They are a lazy cash grab. Instead of hiring police officers we are replacing them with technology.

If I am in the position that I am breaking a red light, I'd way rather be caught by a camera.

Camera tickets are cheaper.
Camera ticket won't give you any points on your license.
And most importantly, camera tickets won't handcuff you and shoot you in the back accidentally on purpose.

 

[Doppel]

In many locales it is illegal to enter an intersection on a yellow light.

I travel in many different states & if possible to stop without slamming on the brakes, I will stop on a yellow. I also drive NASA HPDE & the need for speed is mostly out of my system on public roads.

Illegal where? That makes no sense to be the law.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

A lot of states wont do that for simple traffic violations. It costs more to track him down than the ticket is worth.

They don't try to "track down" anyone because it is indeed too expensive for minor traffic violations. That doesn't mean there isn't a bench warrant issued, only that it's not served right away. When you toss a ticket and/or skip a court appearance a judge will sign the warrant and the notice goes on your driving record. If you get pulled over for another violation or get involved in a minor fender bender a cop will run the license, see the warrant and drag the person away in handcuffs.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline
I got a ticket in the mail two years ago for turning right on red. I threw it in the trash, have yet to hear anything about it.

If they ever come to my door, I will say I never received it.

Aren't tickets sent through certified mail?

No they are not.

I had 6 camera tickets sent to an old address from 2006.

5 Years later the state hit me up for $27,000.

They jacked the original $195 to $27,000 in late fees and penalties plus suspended license and warrant for arrest.

 

[Howard]

My thoughts:

If people obeyed the fucking law those things wouldn't even exist.

Only if crime prevention was the only reason for these things, which is not the case.

 

[Colt45]

In many locales it is illegal to enter an intersection on a yellow light.

I guess the laws of physics are illegal in those locales as well. :awe:

 

[sze5003]

There are a few of these lights on my way to and from work. Both times there are traffic piles so big that cars do get stuck in the middle. The camera takes a picture. If all get a ticket or just one person I'm not sure.

I've also noticed that even if you go through a yellow light , it takes a picture. The way they have the sensors are pretty much in the center of the intersection so you can't just chug along yellow and all is dandy.

 

[feralkid]

Snow tires are overrated.
All-seasons are good enough.

Ha!

 

[feralkid]

They don't try to "track down" anyone because it is indeed too expensive for minor traffic violations. That doesn't mean there isn't a bench warrant issued, only that it's not served right away. When you toss a ticket and/or skip a court appearance a judge will sign the warrant and the notice goes on your driving record. If you get pulled over for another violation or get involved in a minor fender bender a cop will run the license, see the warrant and drag the person away in handcuffs.

Often true, however it varies from state to state with "camera" offenses. Some states do not recognize a camera ticket sent in the mail as being a "legally served" citation, so they have to physically serve you the ticket. No bench warrant would be issued unless you ignored the "personally served" (by an officer of the court) citation (which may never happen, depending on municipal budgets/policies).

Huge YMMV.

 

[bonkers325]

I see a lot of people in this thread claiming 2 second yellow lights. Most state DOT regulations specify 3 seconds as the minimum, so you can definitely get it overturned if you time the light and present to the court that the yellow light is not to DOT minimum transition times.